DEcreasing Seawater Acidification Removing atmospheric Carbon (DESARC-MARESANUS)

The research project DESARC-MARESANUS addresses two environmental problems of great importance: the increase in atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) and the consequent acidification of the oceans.

To limit global warming "well below 2°C", as agreed under the Paris Agreement, a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is crucial but no longer sufficient, since it becomes necessary, to start removing CO2 from the atmosphere, in quantities the more significant, the more emissions reduction is postponed.

The DESARC-MARESANUS project aims at studying and assessing a process for removing CO2 from the atmosphere and simultaneously counteract ocean acidification. This process is based on biomass gasification to produce lime which is spread in the oceans in order to decrease their acidity, also generating decarbonized energy by-products such as hydrogen. The research activity of DESARC-MARESANUS project aims to study more in detail the technical and economic feasibility of the process, and the benefits for the marine sector, with a focus on the Mediterranean.